Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;festive&#39;

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Festive’, characterized by its large daisy-type inflorescences that are about 8.6 cm in diameter; attractive dark red and yellow bi-colored ray florets; very freely flowering habit with numerous inflorescences per stem; early flowering, response time about 49 days; very dark green foliage; strong stems; and good postproduction longevity with inflorescences maintaining good substance and color for about three weeks in an interior environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Festive’.

[0002] The new Chrysanthemum is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Salinas, Calif. and Alva, Fla. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new cut Chrysanthemumcultivars having inflorescences with desirable colors and good form andsubstance.

[0003] The new Chrysanthemum originated from a cross made by theInventor in July, 1995, in Salinas, Calif., of a proprietaryChrysanthemum seedling selection identified as code number D050, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryChrysanthemum seedling selection identified as D486, not patented, asthe male, or pollen, parent.

[0004] The cultivar Festive was discovered and selected by the Inventoras a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in acontrolled environment in Alva, Fla., in November, 1996. The selectionof this plant was based on its desirable inflorescence colors and goodform and substance.

[0005] Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminalcuttings taken in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., has shownthat the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The cultivar Festive has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

[0007] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Festive’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Festive’ as a new anddistinct cultivar:

[0008] 1. Large daisy-type inflorescences that are about 8.6 cm indiameter.

[0009] 2. Attractive dark red and yellow bi-colored ray florets.

[0010] 3. Very freely flowering with numerous inflorescences per stem.

[0011] 4. Early flowering, response time about 49 days.

[0012] 5. Very dark green foliage.

[0013] 6. Thick and strong stems.

[0014] 7. Good postproduction longevity with inflorescences maintaininggood substance and color for about three weeks in an interiorenvironment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0015] The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overallappearance of the new Chrysanthemum, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Chrysanthemum. The photograph on the first sheetcomprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of‘Festive’ grown as a spray-type cut Chrysanthemum. The photograph on thesecond sheet comprises a close-up view of typical inflorescences of‘Festive’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0016] In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif., underconditions which approximate commercial practice in a double-layerpolyethylene-covered greenhouse. Two-week old rooted cuttings wereplanted on May 30, 2000 and received 20 long day/short nights followedby short day/long nights until flowering. Plants were grown assingle-stem cut chrysanthemums. During the production time, thefollowing environmental conditions were measured: day temperatures, 18to 27° C.; night temperatures, 16 to 18° C.; and light levels, 2,000 to4,000 footcandles. Measurements and numerical values represent averagesfor six to ten typical flowering stems and were taken during the week ofAug. 20, 2000.

[0017] Botanical Classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivarFestive.

[0018] Commercial Classification: Daisy spray-type cut Chrysanthemum.

[0019] Parentage:

[0020]Female or seed parent.—Proprietary Chrysanthemum×morifoliumseedling selection identified as code number D050, not patented.

[0021]Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary Chrysanthemum×morifoliumseedling selection identified as code number D486, not patented

[0022] Propagation:

[0023]Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.

[0024]Time to rooting.—Seven to ten days with soil temperatures of 21°C.

[0025]Root description.—Fine, fibrous and well-branched.

[0026] Plant Description:

[0027]Appearance.—Herbaceous daisy spray-type cut flower.

[0028]Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Length: About 99.1 cm.Spray width: About 19.5 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Texture: Pubescent.Color: 146A to 146B.

[0029]Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate. Length: About 10.3cm. Width: About 7.8 cm. Apex: Cuspidate to mucronate. Base: Mostlytruncate with sagittate tendencies. Margin: Palmately lobed; sinusesmostly convergent and overlapping. Texture: Upper and lower surfacespubescent; veins prominent on lower surface. Color: Young foliage uppersurface: Darker than 147A. Young foliage lower surface: Darker than147B. Mature foliage upper surface: Much darker than 147A; venation,close to 147B. Mature foliage lower surface: Darker than 147B; venation,close to 146A. Petiole: Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.Color: Upper surface: Margins, 147A; center, close to 147B. Lowersurface: Close to 146A.

[0030] Flowering Description:

[0031]Appearance.—Daisy spray-type inflorescence form with elongatedoblong-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on terminals, arisingfrom leaf axils. Disc and ray florets arranged acropetally on acapitulum.

[0032]Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower in theautumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere. At other times of the year,inflorescence initiation and development can be induced under shortday/long night conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plantsexposed to two or three weeks of long day/short night conditions afterplanting followed by photoinductive short day/long night conditionsflower about 49 days later.

[0033]Postproduction longevity.—In an interior environment, floweringstems will maintain good color and substance for about three weeks in aninterior environment after one week of cool storage.

[0034]Quantity of Inflorescences.—Freely flowering with about 12inflorescences per flowering stem.

[0035]Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 8.6 cm. Depth (height): About2.2 cm. Diameter of disc: About 2 cm. Diameter of receptacle: About 8mm.

[0036]Ray florets.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 4.3 cm. Width:About 1.2 cm. Corolla tube length: About 3 mm. Corolla tube diameter:About 2 mm. Apex: Rounded, acute or emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:Entire. Texture: Velvety, smooth, glabrous; longitudinally ridged.Aspect: Mostly flat, slightly reflexed. Aspect: Initially upright; whenmature, about 65° from vertical. Number of ray florets perinflorescence: About 25 arranged in one row. Color: When opening, uppersurface: Apex, dark red, 46A; midsection, alternating longitudinalstripes of dark red and yellow, 46A and 9A, respectfully; base, yellow,9A. When opening, lower surface: Yellow, 9B to 9C. Fully opened, uppersurface: Apex, dark red, 46A to 53A; midsection, alternatinglongitudinal stripes of dark red and yellow, 46A to 53A and 9A,respectfully; base, yellow, 9A. Dark red coloration becomes darker,towards 59A, with subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface:Ground color, yellow, 9B to 9C; mid-section and apex, underlain withlongitudinal stripes of dark red, 53A to 59A.

[0037]Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; flared at apex. Length: About 8 mm.Width: Apex: About 3 mm. Base: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets perinflorescence: Numerous, about 154. Color: Immature: 144A to 145A to154A. Mature: Apex: Outer surface, 9A; inner surface, 12A, becoming darkred, 53A, with subsequent development. Mid-section: 154D. Base: 155D.

[0038]Peduncle.—Aspect: Strong, angled about 45° from vertical. Length:First peduncle: About 6.6 cm. Fourth peduncle: About 10.3 cm. Seventhpeduncle: About 12.7 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Texture: Very finepubescence. Color: 146A.

[0039]Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only.Anther color: 12A. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: 15A.Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets.

[0040]Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

[0041] Disease Resistance: Resistance to pathogens common toChrysanthemums has not been observed on plants grown under commercialconditions.

[0042] Temperature Tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum havedemonstrated tolerance to night temperatures as low as 5° C. and daytemperatures lower than 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plantnamed ‘Festive’, as illustrated and described.